Issue 4

F O C U S

JUNE 2014

ISSUE#4

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CHIODOS | HANDS LIKE HOUSES | I THE MIGHTY | GARY WEISSMANN + MORE FOCUS MAGAZINE | 1

STAFF Founders Penelope Martinez Mariana Patino

Editor-in-Chief | Designer Penelope Martinez Art & Managing Editor Mariana Patino Copy Editor Lori Gutman Writers Kelly Fadden Taylor Hancock Mariana Patino Photographers Jenn Curtis Leah Dirckerman Lori Gutman Penelope Martinez

Connect focuszine.com facebook.com/focuszine focuszine.tumblr.com @focuszine Contact Us info.focuszine@gmail.com THANK YOU Knuckle Puck, I the Mighty, Hands Like Houses, Chiodos, Alive in Standby, The Saddest Landscape, J. Roddy Walston and The Business, Gary Weissmann, Ryan Bingham, Anam Merchant, Mike Cubillos, Rachel Miller, Darren Baber, Bill Meis, Natalie Bisignano, Kelly Kettering, Jamal Sabet, Christian Koo, Steve Karas, Earshot Media, Roadrunner Records, Big Picture Media, Entone Group, Epic Records, the extraordinary staff and you!

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WHAT’S INSIDE 20

10

34

26

18

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In every issue

6

Artist of the Month

10

Behind the Band

13

16

20 26

Alive in Standby

Reviews

50 52

I the Mighty

Album + Hotel Books + Until We Are Ghosts + Hawthorne Heights + Ghost Town

Show +Pop Evil // Escape the Fate + 5th Times a Charm Tour

Staff Playlist

features

14

18

J. Roddy Walston and The Business

28

Hands Like Houses

Festivals 101

The Saddest Landscape

30 34

Chiodos

Knuckle Puck

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ARTIST OF THE MONTH

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WHO: Gary Weissmann WHAT: Graphic Design WHERE: www.mycreationfactory.com Q. When did you begin to design?

I played with it a little bit in high school, but it wasn’t until I started making shirts for my old band that I really became interested in design. That was about six years ago. I was pretty bad at it when I started, haha.

I look back at those designs now and just laugh at how rough they were.

Q. How do you get inspired when you have to design something for a client?

A lot of stuff inspires me. Watching my favorite movies, listening to music, admiring other people’s work, etc. I usually try and find out what the client wants, and then I’ll take some time to explore some new ideas, check out other people’s stuff online, and then form some thoughts and get some drafts together.

Q. What are your favorite and least favorite parts about your job/hobby?

My favorite part is definitely being able to work from home.

I’ve been fortunate enough to make freelance work for a little over two years now. I also love that I can see my work all over the place, from merch tables at shows to some stores in the mall.

It’s a pretty awesome feeling.

My least favorite part is that some people really love bad designs. And I have to give them what they pay for. Sometimes I have to take a good idea and make it look awful before the client is satisfied. That’s a bummer. I also can’t stand when someone approaches me and doesn’t take my job seriously at all. I always get the whole “Hey man, can you do this for free? It’s small and it’ll only take a few minutes.”

And it never takes only a few minutes, because then they want a thousand changes!

Q. Recently, there was an incident where one of your designs was basically stolen. Does this happen often? How do you handle these situations?

I mean, I guess it’s a tiny bit flattering… I spoke to the girl who designed it and everything is good now.

I messaged her asking her to take the design down and to stop the band from selling it. They hadn’t even

printed the design yet, so that was good. They had to change it after that. That’s the first time one of my designs was stolen, and luckily it was pretty easy to solve.

The girl who designed it was super cool about it, and, from what I understand, it was a lot more of the band’s fault. They knew exactly what they were doing.

Q. Have you had a rough time in this career? If so, would you mind sharing an experience, and also include how you were able to stay focused and determined?

Oh, absolutely. When I first started doing freelance design, it was so hard. There was a time when I had nine dollars in my bank account, and I was terrified.

As hard as that was, I think I needed it. It forced me to really get out there and try super hard to find anything to work on that would pay the bills.

I knew that if I wanted to continue working for myself, I’d have to find a way to make it happen.

After some time, a lot of people gradually started approaching me to work for them. It’s crazy to see how it’s flipped around now, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.

Q. Who has been a great influence on you?

When I first started out in design, I got a LOT of help from a good friend of mine. His name is Jaime Aguire, but everyone knows him as Jaime Radar. He’s an insanely talented dude who never turned me away when I needed help with anything. He’s helped me quite a bit, and I’m forever thankful to him. There’s another dude named Chris Sandlin who runs a company called SockMonkee. I love his illustrations and textures. He’s got a great, unique style.

Q. What’s been a proud moment for you?

There have been a few of them! I’ve had the opportunity to work on a few designs for Asking Alexandria and I did a design for A Day To Remember. A few of my designs are also currently being sold at Hot Topic stores across the country. The very first “proud moment” I can think of is having the first album design I’d ever made featured on the NBC Morning News. That was pretty cool to see. I also design everything for Real FOCUS MAGAZINE | 7

Friends. As their designer and close friend, being able to see their constant, growing success is so awesome.

ally becoming a designer. So, in a sense, one passion of mine led me to a completely different passion.

Yeah, that was a super fun project. I talked to Mitch on the phone about a month and a half before we started on the project and he shared some of his ideas with me about the art direction. He’s a super talented dude, and he’s got a ton of good ideas. He flew out here, and we spent a few days gathering supplies and building the set for the artwork. Mitch took care of the art direction and photography. My job was to do the layout and all of the text work you’ll see on the album. I also put together all of the pre-order packages for the artwork.

Q. Since anyone can download Illustrator and Photoshop now, why do you think graphic designers and artists are such an essential part of the music industry?

Graphic design and music go together hand in hand. With any band, the focus is never entirely on just the music but on the whole package.

The album covers, the merch designs, the overall branding of the band. Without designers and artists who could take care of that for the band, it would be an entirely different industry. A band’s branding is insanely important to their profits, and, when it comes down to it, kids want to buy merch that looks cool.

A lot of bands make most of their money from their merchandise sales at shows and online.

Q. Besides design, do you have a passion for another art medium? any hidden talents?

Yeah! I’m actually a guitarist as well. I’ve been playing guitar for fourteen years now, and I’m in a band called Hallows (wearehallows.com). I used to be in a few bands back in the day, and I feel like that’s what led to me eventu-

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Q. You recently collaborated with Mitchell Wojcik on the new Real Friends album art.

What was your role in this project?

Q. Anything you’d like to add?

It’s pretty cool to see how that all played out.

Q. What is more of a challenge—creating album work or logo designs?

For me, I find logo design much more challenging. There’s so much less detail in a logo design, but those details are so important.

You’re responsible for creating something that people can recognize instantly as “that company.”

They’re both really fun to work on.

I definitely like album artwork a lot more, because it opens a lot more doors in terms of what you can create… But logo design is a lot of fun too.

I think you’ve covered a pretty good amount. Thanks so much for interviewing me, and thanks to anyone reading! You can view samples of my stuff on my site at www.mycreationfactory.com. If you’d like to work together, there’s a contact form right on the website.

more of Gary’s work

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B e h i n d T h e B a n d INFO CARD

Ryan Bingha m NAME_____________________ Management Assistant JOB TITLE____________________ Between The Trees, Action RESUME_______________________ Item, Anarbor, Never Shout Never, A _____________________________ Day To Remember, SideOneDu mmy _____________________________ Records, F ly South Music Group _____________________________

Ryan Bingham

Q.How long have you had this job?

After this summer, it’ll be around ten years or so.

and running VIP events. I love TMing, but it’s a stressful job.

The other ones are more laid back.

Q.How did you start working in the music industry?

Well, it happened for two reasons: 1. When I was fifteen, a good friend of mine was in college, and he started a clothing company called Naïve. He brought the company out on tours like Warped Tour, and I came along to sell merch.

2. Some of my best friends were in a local band in Orlando.

It broke up, and some of the members reformed and started a band called Between The Trees. Since I knew how to do merch on tours already, they brought me along with them.

Q. While on your website, I came across your spreadsheet. How else do you stay organized while on the road?

Do you ever get frustrated?

Knowing how to use spreadsheets is a must for being out on the road. That’s especially true if you’re doing merch. If you’re not using spreadsheets, there are apps out there, like AtVenu, that do the spreadsheet work for you. I just like to keep everything in my world organized and that’s all on me.

Being organized is a big thing for me. I get anxious if my stuff isn’t where it’s supposed to be.

Q. Considering the fact that you have multiple responsibilities while on the road, where did you learn everything that you know now? Do you have a job preference?

I learned everything from watching other people do it and then doing it myself. I didn’t know anything about selling merch when my friend plucked me out of high school and threw me on the road. I didn’t know anything about tour managing until Between The Trees didn’t want to deal with the duties that a tour manager would normally do. So, to help them out, I stepped up and took over. It’s the same with running VIP Meet and Greets... Action Item just threw that on me. They did a whole tour that was just one big VIP event movie-premiere type thing... It was nuts, and I helped run the whole thing. I would say it’s a tie between doing merch

Q. What exactly is the job description of a ‘fan coordinator’? Have you come across any weird fans?

As a fan coordinator, I basically set up the VIP Meet and Greets everyday (props, sound equipment, chairs, shirts/ posters/etc.), and I babysit and organize fans before the band arrives. For A Day To Remember, I got to go one step further. Since all the kids that came up on stage for the “House Party” were my VIP kids, I got to be the cop that busted the party every night. I haven’t met any weird fans that stand out in my mind, really. Most of the people that come to the Meet and Greets for Action Item and A Day To Remember are really cool and respectful. Plus, they’re there to meet the band, not the chubby crew member, so no one really gets weird with me. But the few fans that I have had

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personal interactions with have been really cool. I even stay in contact with some of them.

Q. Favorite tour so far? What made it so special?

Man, that’s hard. It may be a three way tie…

1. Every tour I did with Between The Trees. Those dudes are my best friends in the whole world, so every second of every tour was incredible, even while sleeping in parking lots and showering in Wal-Mart bathrooms.

2. Warped Tour 2013. I had so many good friends out on that tour, and I made dozens of new ones. That’s what’s so great about Warped Tour: you get to see your friends who are scattered across the country, and you also get to meet new people.

It’s just such a fun tour, and I can’t wait until 2014.

3. The House Party Tour. I had just gotten off of the 2013 Warped Tour. The Wonder Years did a full run on that, and they were opening House Party, so I was mega-psyched to spend another two months with the band and their whole crew. They are some of the greatest people I’ve had the opportunity to meet in this industry. Also, meeting and becoming good friends with ADTR has been such an awesome time. They are crazy and hilarious, and it’s always a fun time with any one of those dudes and their crew.

to share?

I tour managed this band once. The singer was kind of a mess and was a bit of a substance abuser. Navigating and dealing with someone that got so messed up—to the point where he had to be carried out of the venue more times than I can count—was super rough.

Q. Most important lesson you’ve learned so far?

Be humble, be as nice as possible, be patient, and have as much fun as you can.

Q. What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career? How did you fix or overcome it?

My biggest mistake was probably quitting the road for a while for a girl I was seeing at the time. It fixed itself, haha. She broke up with me, and I got an offer to work with SideOneDummy for a summer. That launched me back into life on the road.

Q. Anything you’d like to add? #GoodPeople. Also, listen to Masked Intruder, Citizen, Real Friends, State Champs, The Wonder Years, Modern Baseball, You Blew It, Neck Deep, Old Again, and Downtown Struts.

Q. What are your pet peeves on the road?

Rudeness from fans and other crews. We are all there for the same reason: we love music. There’s no need to act like a dick and be rude. It’s the most frustrating thing ever. It also bothers me when people aren’t out to have as much fun as possible. Yeah, we’re there to do a job, but it’s also super fun. Embrace it.

Q. I imagine being on the road for so long can be difficult at times. What do you do to stay grounded and keep a little bit of home with you?

I always bring one of my pillows from home to sleep with.

That’s all I really bring from my house that’s not gear. I try to stay grounded by talking to my best friend, Jeremy, and my mom everyday.

Q. When you’re not traveling, what do you do at home?

I work at Fly South Music Group, assisting their bands and a couple of their managing partners. I also hang out, go to shows, watch way too many movies, and buy way too many comic books and records.

Interview | PENELOPE MARTINEZ PHOTOS | PG. 8 CHRIS MARTIN PG. 9 ADAM ELMAKIAS

Q. Are there any bad experiences you’d be willing

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side a Hope for the best you me at six 18 anarbor boston augustana somewhere in neverland all time low Postcards and polariods sleeping with sirens thnks fr th mmrs fall out boy don’t forget where you belong one direction Summer Jamsss how far we’ve come matchbox TWENTY

Side B bottom of the ocean sleep on it outlines all time low sing ed sheeran makedamnsure taking back sunday my friends save me forever the sickest kids i remember a day to remember we’ll all be the maine Find our playlist on:

bit.ly/june14sp

bit.ly/spjune14

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F E S T I VA L S 1 0 1 by | Kelly Fadden

With warm weather and no school, summer is the perfect time for festivals. Here at Focus, we know that thousands of music lovers will be attending at least one festival over the next few months. Whether this is your first time going or you’re a seasoned pro when it comes to festival outings, here are a few tips to ensure that your experience is the best it can be!

BE PREPARED +Get a good nights sleep so you’re not tired for the day. +Eat something in the morning. It’s important! Not only is food going to be expensive there, but you also don’t want to end up missing your favorite bands because you were starving and looking for food. +Make sure your phone is charged all the way before you leave. Having it run out of battery halfway throughout the day can be unbearable.

TIP +If you can, bring a change of clothes and leave it in the car. If someone is Put your phone on airplane picking you up, have them bring clothes for you. After a long day of rocking mode. You are still able to out, your clothes could be dirty and sweaty. Being able to change into take pictures and videos in something clean for the ride home will feel amazing. this mode and you can easily +The night before, get familiar with the festival grounds and find a meet-up switch it off if you need to text place for you and your friends. Don’t forget to follow your favorite bands and or tweet something! organizations on Twitter, as they might have some cool stuff planned for your date!

WHAT TO BRING

**Try to limit yourself to only the necessities. You don’t want to be lugging everything you own throughout the day. That’s unnecessary weight to carry, and your stuff will probably get in the way a lot.**

+Bring a small bag (like a drawstring) or a backpack if you have a lot to carry. No one wants to be walking around with their arms full all day, and people around you will be more comfortable as well. +Small snacks that will not melt or go bad (no chocolate, guys!) +Water (make sure you check the festival’s website to see their policies) +Keys +I.D. +Money—Don’t just bring a credit card, make sure to have some cash as well. Some vendors don’t take credit cards and sometimes their machines can malfunction. And, with cash on hand, you can tip the wonderful merch people that are helping you! +Hat +Sunglasses TIP Make sure to apply it +Ziplock bag for your valuables. You never know when it’s going before + during the to rain. +Bandaids. Got a little scratch, but you don’t want to miss your festival for favorite band? Put on a bandaid for the mean time. Make sure protection to keep it clean and head over to the medical tent as soon as you can. +Sunscreen, sunscreen, and MORE SUNSCREEN. +Deodorant +Baby wipes FOCUS MAGAZINE | 14

TIP Bring a reusable thermal bottle! It will keep your drink nice and cold in the heat.

WHAT TO WEAR *It’s best to wear lighter colors, because darker ones will absorb more heat.* +Shorts +T-shirt or Tank +Sneakers (e.g. Vans and Converse). They will stay on your feet and they’re comfortable for both walking and standing for hours. Old shoes are your best bet—you will be stepped on and you might lose one while you’re having a good time. +If you have long hair, bring lots of hairbands. Having your hair down will only bother those behind you, and you don’t want to get your hair pulled. Tying your hair up will help you stay cool, and you’ll have controllable hair for when you meet your favorite artists. +Little to no makeup. If you can go without it, great! If you can’t, try to limit it. By the middle of the day, it might be running down your face, and that’s one more thing you have to worry about. Minimal foundation and waterproof mascara should do the trick.

ENJOY YOURSELF Festivals are a great way to meet new people who like the same music as you while simultaneously seeing dozens of great musical acts.

OVERALL +What you wear is important. Make sure you are 110% comfortable. +Water and sunscreen are your best friends. +Don’t tweet and record every minute of the day. Not only are you bothering those around you, but you’re also draining your battery. +Bring cash. +Tip the merch vendors and be nice to everyone. +Eat. +If you’re tired, say so! Take a seat in the shade and stay hydrated. +Check out artists you’ve never heard of. Give up-and-coming bands a chance. +Have fun and make new friends!

If you want more tips on how to have a good time and be prepared, check out these awesome videos!

Secret Festival Tips, Tricks & Trends by thegothicsprite Warped Tour 2014 SURVIVAL TIPS! by rockforevermagazine Festival Survival Checklist: What’s in my bag for Summer fest? by leighannsays Surviving Warped Tour by Carlos Navarro WHAT TO BRING TO A MUSIC FESTIVAL by abb3rz07 Hannah’s Declassified Warped Tour Survival Guide by xohannahh87 Plug Your Holes - How to Buy Merch at Warped Tour by Plugyourholes Survival Guide To Festival Toilets by Videojug

find us at SUMMERFEST this June/July FOCUS MAGAZINE | 15

TheSaddestLandscape Q. First of all, can you please tell us who makes up The Saddest Landscape?

Currently, the lineup consists of Andy Maddox (guitar/vocals), Aaron Neigher (drums), and Andy Farrell (bass). We have a couple of different people who rotate on second guitar depending on availability and needs.

Q. Who have been your biggest supporters since day one?

All egos aside, I would say we have been our own biggest supporters. If we didn’t enjoy what we were doing and didn’t support each other, this band would’ve ended a while ago. Aside from that, we have labels, designers, friends in other bands, loved ones, etc. who have all supported us, and we wouldn’t be doing this without a very long, random list of people.

Q. How did the band begin and what were your hopes back then? Have they changed Q. Other than playing Bled Fest, what do since?

We began twelve years ago. Like a lot of other bands, you want to accomplish this year? we met through friends who were friends with other people who shared a similar desire to create music. It just grew from there. Our initial hopes were to excite and inspire ourselves, play some shows, and release some records. As for how that has changed… I would say our hopes are pretty much the same but on a somewhat larger scale. Also, the places we want to go to have changed. We get inspired in different ways now, but that just comes from experience. At the core, we’re still just a band of people who love playing together.

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The big goal is to get the new full length out by the end of the year. It seems doable with where we’re at now. We have a couple of splits that may come out too. There will also be some touring in the fall, and we hope to announce that soon.

Q. With Bled Fest in mind, it seems like a lot of new bands and genres are being exposed to larger crowds now. What are the negatives and positives of this, from your perspective?

I think it’s all positive. We are not elitist in any way.

If you want to listen to us or any other bands, great! I hope the music makes you happy, or makes you feelsomething. Too many people worry about how popular their favorite bands are getting. Let’s be honest. As big as this scene seems, we’re still pretty far removed from the mainstream. I don’t see Rolling Stone covers in any of our peers’ futures. But even if that happened, so what? Is what you like defined by how many other people enjoy the same thing? If so, that is the real negative.

Q. You posted an image on Facebook saying that you were writing. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m guessing you were talking about new music... Possibly a new album? How is the new music coming along?

add?

They can order directly from either http://www.topshelfrecords.com/artists/the-saddest-landscape/products or http://thesaddestlandscape.bigcartel.com, along with a number of digital retailers, but we always recommend listening on vinyl.

INTERVIEW | Penelope Martinez PHOTO | Provided

GET CONNECTED

http://www.thesaddestlandscape.com http://thesaddestlandscape.tumblr.com saddestlndscape thesaddestlandscape

It’s going great! We’ve been writing for the past few months, and we’re about to demo a bunch of songs this weekend. If all goes well, we hope to get it out by the end of this year. We wanted to take our time and write a longer, more epic record than we have in the past.

It’s shaping up nicely.

Q. What’s your writing process? Do you usually have a concept in mind, or is it just whatever comes naturally?

A little bit of both. I often have a lyrical theme or arc in mind, but sometimes the concept or overall shape of the record doesn’t really start to be clear until we’re at least halfway through with writing. Then we assess what’s missing to make the complete picture and continue writing from there.

Q. What are some struggles you’re having right now? How are you pushing through them?

Distance and time have always been our biggest problem. We live in three different states, and sometimes getting together is a challenge. That and balancing all our lives outside of the band is a trick in itself, but we make it work because we care about what we do.

There is always a way. We just need to be patient sometimes.

Q. Where can people go to listen to your music? Is there anything you’d like to FOCUS MAGAZINE | 17

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A lot of bands are formed when old

childhood friends come together to do something they love.

Unfortunately, as time passes, people decide to go to college, or get married and have kids, and thus they go their separate ways. When Rod Walston decided to start a band, he thought he should keep it simple, without a solid lineup, in case anyone decided to leave.

J Roddy Walston and The Business was formed by Walston, who had the simple idea of writing songs and performing them with a rotating cast of people instead of with a steady lineup. Once he started touring, however, he found musicians who wanted to continue playing in the band. This led to the lineup that is presently J Roddy Walston and The Business—Rod Walston (vocalist/pianist/guitarist), Billy Gordon (vocalist/guitarist), Logan Davis (vocalist/bassist), and Steve Colmus (drummer).

Since its formation, the band has had the opportunity to play huge festivals—namely Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo— both of which they will be performing at again this year. In regards to playing these festivals only a year after being signed to a label, Walston said, “If I had to describe it one word, it was just amazing. We’re on these giant stages and hanging out with The Strokes, My Morning Jacket, Stevie Wonder, and Allison Krause. It was just kinda mind blowing for us to be walking around with those people.”

J Roddy also shed some light on what it’s been like to work with producer Mark Neill and ATO Records. Working with Mark was fast and simple, as far as his approach to recording music, and he has some very particular ideas of how he likes music to sound. “The whole thing with record producers is strange. In a band, you’re with these people all the time and you figure out how to communicate, whether you like something or whether you don’t like something. You try to sort of not step on anybody’s toes. With a producer, it’s generally people that you’ve maybe only had phone conversations with. You’re meeting face to face for the first time. Then you’ve got a week and a half to four weeks of trying to figure out a brand new relationship. It can be super intense, and you’re around them from eight to ten hours a day.” Meanwhile, working with ATO Records has been incredible for the band, because it just feels like the band acquired more members. One of the highlights is that they can have a business relationship, and they can hang out or go out afterwards.

Shortly after signing with ATO in 2013, the band released Essential Tremors, which has since gained a lot of attention.

The name of the album is inspired by a nervous disorder that Walston has, one that causes his hands to shake uncontrollably. This disorder also inspired a lot of the songs on the record, because Walston wanted to write something that could help people embrace the problems that they’re embarrassed or afraid of. He wanted it to be relatable. “It’s sort of like

waving a flag, like, this is what’s going on in my life. And keeping it a secret is turning it into something dark and powerful, rather than just something that you can live with and possibly enjoy.” Luckily for Rod, his tremors generally don’t affect his playing ability in a negative way. In fact, he says they’ve definitely shaped how he plays but without letting them get in his way. “I probably couldn’t be a brain surgeon or something like that, but, as far as playing music goes, I’m able to do what I want to do.”

It’s really amazing how Rod is able to accept one of his quirky characteristics rather than attempt to hide it. Because of this, the band is definitely setting a role model standard for fans that are going through similar situations. J Roddy Walston and The Business has seen amazing progress and success thus far, so be sure to keep an eye out for any upcoming events they play!

INTERVIEW + STORY | Taylor Hancock PHOTOS | Penelope Martinez

GET connected:

http://jroddywalstonandthebusiness.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jroddywalston JRoddyBusiness jroddywalston

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Alive in Standby

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Alive In Standby, a four piece rock band from Michigan, started off as a five person post-hardcore band in 2010. After playing local shows and recording some songs, they released the Dream Status EP in 2011. Not long after, the band went through a few changes that ultimately led to Alive In Standby’s current lineup—Chris Koo (vocals/keyboard), Jacob Burkey (drums), Koda Hult (bass/vocals) and Ben Wilkins (guitar). Together, the guys have been working hard on a full-length album while also touring and promoting their new sound. On their most recent run, they opened up for Conditions on the Missing Hours Tour, and we were lucky enough to chat with three-quarters of the band in NYC. INTERVIEW| Jenn Curtis PHOTOS| Lori Gutman

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HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR SETLIST TONIGHT? Jake: It was easier to choose songs for this tour because it overall encompasses a more pop sound. As such, we have a few of our lighter songs in there.

Chris: We really wanted to play a lot of the new material because we have a new record coming out at the end of July. There are also a few older songs on there to keep a steady balance.

What is your favorite song on the setlist and why?

Chris: My favorite is probably “Weigh You Down,” which is the first song on our setlist. We released it as a single back in October. The energy is really high and we’ve been playing it for a while, so I’m very comfortable with it.

Jake: I think mine is “The Thought of You.” It’ll be on the new record so no one’s really heard it yet.

Koda: Same with me. “The Thought of You” is my favorite right now. I’m digging the song… Pretty stoked on it.

You guys have recently been undergoing some changes and developments, and you’ve been sharing them with the fans through your (Re)Invented series. What inspired the videos?

Chris: The idea behind the series is that this record will be the first thing a lot of people hear from us, since we haven’t put anything out since 2010. We’ve gone through a few member changes since then, especially with Jake and Koda. We haven’t had any big releases with them, but they’ve been with the band for about two years. We wanted people to get to know the record and the process behind it, and to get to know us as a band. The main point behind (Re)Invented is that we’ve been a band for a long time, but we’ve been through so many changes that we’ve “reinvented” ourselves.

The first episode is all about the new record and the emotions behind it. What should fans expect from future episodes?

Chris: The first one is a bit more general—mostly about the fact that we have a new record coming out. The second and third episodes go into more detail about the writing process. We talk more about the songs themselves and the lyrics behind them. We’ll also release more information, such as the release date, artwork, and track listing, as time goes on.

From things you’ve all said, it seems like you’ve gone through a bit of growth with this record. How have you gotten to this point in your musical careers?

Chris: After we released Dream Status in 2010, we played off of it for a while and toured in 2012. We dedicate our lives to doing this for now because it’s what we want to do. We’ve been writing new songs and finally finished recording the album in 2012. A bunch of unfortunate things happened in regards to the record, and they were out of our control. Then we had to pick someone to mix it and master it, which took a few months. We ended up going with Matt Wentworth (guitarist for Our Last Night). He did an awesome job with it. We had him mix the record. Once we got that done, we decided that we wanted to self-release it.

We want to do as much as we can ourselves because we just feel better about it. We’ll gladly pay someone else to do anything we can’t handle, but if we can do it ourselves, we will. We run the merch store that’s coming out. Anything you get in the mail is literally packed at my house or Ben’s apartment. We’re trying to do as much as we can. We want to build the name and brand it really well. Right now, where we are with the band is the strongest it’s ever been. We don’t feel like we have to rely on anyone or send out a bunch of unnecessary emails or phone calls. We have more freedom to do what we want with ideas, and we don’t have to check in with anyone. We feel strong right now, and we’re confident about the future.

What is your fondest memory with Alive In Standby?

Chris: All of it!

Koda: Traveling.

Jake: Being able to travel the country. The day I turned eighteen, we were playing a show in California. It was the coolest thing to me.

Chris: My favorite thing is being able to travel and play music. When we’re traveling, it’s for music. It’s cool to be in New York, but it’s way cooler to be in New York because we have songs to play and people who want to hear them. I also enjoy meeting like-minded people who share the same love for music that I do and getting to hang out. If this is something we can do with our lives, it’s just amazing.

Koda: I don’t have one! I can’t pick one. Traveling is great. I had a really great night in Dallas with my buddy Anthony Lucido.

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do you have Any summer plans?

Chris: The record! After this, we’ll be playing a few home shows. We won’t be playing many because we have our release show on July 25th at the Crowfoot Ballroom and we want kids to come out to that. We’ll announce when the actual CD comes out on iTunes and whatnot. That’s our big thing that we’re planning right now. Focus on that.

Then we want to get an agent and get back on the road to support the album, but we’ll have a lot more information when we actually get to that.

Anything you want to say to your fans?

Koda: We love you!

Chris: Thank you guys for caring about this band and supporting us. The past year and a half has been one of the most stressful times that we’ve been through. Just the fact that you guys tweet at us, comment on our instagrams—we see everything. It makes it all worth it. It means the world to us. We can’t believe that people care about us and want to meet us, so thank you!

Get connected: www.facebook.com/aliveinstandby www.aliveinstandby.com www.twitter.com/aliveinstandby

“We dedicate our lives to doing this for now because it’s what we want to do.”

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I the Mighty consists of Brent Walsh (vocals), Ian Pedigo (guitar), Chris Hinkley (bass), and Blake Dahlinger (drums). After coming together in 2007, the guys hoped to eventually sign to a good label and do some tours. What they got was even better. After four years, they were signed to Equal Vision Records, home to artists like Say Anything, A Lot Like Birds, and We Came As Romans. Since being signed, the band has released one EP and one full-length album with the label.

On top of that, not long after finishing a spring tour with letlive. and Architects, I The Mighty will be heading out for the second half of Warped Tour 2014.

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Q. First of all, what made you want to start the band, and what were your thoughts back then?

We've all played music our entire lives and were all looking to find other people who wanted to make music a career. We feel very fortunate to be able to put out records and travel while playing music.

Q. What were your hopes back then, and have they changed? If so, how?

them. What is it like to have this kind of effect and impact on people who you've briefly met or haven't met at all?

That's one of the most rewarding aspects of writing and playing music. It's pretty surreal when people write us a letter or talk to us about that. We're so thankful to know that we're able to connect with people on such a personal level.

Back then, our hopes were to sign to a credible label and start touring. Now, we hope to continue to put out music that we love and to tour with bands that we love and respect.

Q. What can we expect at Warped tour?

Q. Since your latest album was released a little less than a year ago, I'm guessing that you've been working on a new one. Can we expect it any time soon?

Q. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

New music? Soon… New album? Not so soon.

Q. Many of your fans would say that you're underrated and that you don't get the attention you deserve. How do you feel about this?

That's very humbling to hear. We're super okay with the fact that we're building an incredibly loyal fanbase over time. We're so grateful to everyone who’s given our music a chance.

We'll be playing two sets every day… One full electric set at the Kevin Says Stage, and one acoustic at the Acoustic Basement Tent.

2 apples + 2 apples = 4 apples... But seriously, come say hi and hang out with us on Warped Tour. We're pumped for this summer!

INTERVIEW + LIVE PHOTOS | Penelope Martinez POSED PHOTOS | Provided

GET CONNECTED: http://www.ithemighty.com/ http://facebook.com/ithemighty @ithemighty

Q. On your latest tour, you were able to head out with letlive. and Architects. What was it like to be surrounded by other musicians who are also changing the music scene with every show and song they put out?

It was an honor to be a part of that tour, and we're so grateful to letlive. and Architects for taking us out. It was very inspiring being around those guys and watching them perform every night.

Q. Have you ever thought about calling it quits?

If so, how were you able to stay focused and determined?

Early on, we learned pretty quickly that the music industry is not easy to break into. As such, we knew what we were getting into on the "business" end of things.

On a personal level, we're all such great friends. It's always a blast playing music together and being out on the road.

Q. Your song “Failures” is well known among your fans. It speaks to many of them, and has helped them cope with situations life throws at

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While Australia might be home to some of the most terrifying animals, it is also home to some great musicians—namely the guys of Hands Like Houses. The band, comprised of Trenton Smith, Matt Cooper, Joel Tyrell, Alex Pearson, Matt Parkitny, and Jamal Sabet, formed in 2008 in Canberra, Australia. After catching the attention of Rise Records, they were signed in early 2012 and have since released two full-length albums.

After years of hard work, the band has gained a loyal, worldwide fanbase that is especially prominent in America. Shortly after their opening slot on the Unconditional Tour with Memphis May Fire, the band toured the U.S. alongside Chiodos and Emarosa. “Being able to tour with Chiodos was awesome. Craig is one of those people who can connect with people really comfortably,” commented Trenton when asked about the tour.

Following such consistent touring this past year, the guys were finally ready to do their first U.S headlining tour. Transitioning from an opener to a headliner can be difficult, but Hands Like Houses tackled it with the help of encouragement from their fans. “We can relish and enjoy that the majority of the crowd is there for us, which is really cool,” Trenton shared. And although it was scary sales-wise, wondering whether they’d have tangible and positive results, the band remembered that their goal with this tour wasn’t necessarily to reach a new crowd of people, but to try and enjoy their time on stage and thank those who have been supporting them. To prepare for their shows, the guys argued a lot in order to create the best setlist for themselves and the fans. “We try to make it a little bit of a journey.

I love to be able to change it up every night so that people can’t go on Twitter and search for the setlist,” mentioned Trenton. He’s familiar with the moment of disappointment when a band doesn’t play what you want to hear, but he also loves the excitement and journey of not knowing exactly what to expect.

While there is popular belief that all bands party every night on tour, especially when they’re headlining, that’s not necessarily true. Hands Like Houses seem to skip the wild times nowadays, saying that, although they used to party a lot more, they’ve turned into old spirits. “It’s just not worth it. Spending your money on shit, feeling like shit the next day, and playing shit the next night. It’s not worth it. Maybe we’re just old… its

probably that,” added Cooper.

This, by no manner, means that they haven’t had their fair share of crazy moments. Cooper explained that on last summer’s Warped Tour, Joel’s brother got stuck in Florida. “He woke up two hours after bus call on a park bench without his phone and wallet. We were in the next city already, so that was interesting.” Luckily, their driver was able to get someone to drive him over, and they were able to play that day with no problems.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the guys have been able to turn their passions into careers. For this, they’re thankful to everyone on their team—agents, management, fans, and even promoters—because they recognize that these people had faith in the band. That definitely motivated them to keep striving for success. “People just listened to us and believed in us and it just sort of happened.” Already having fulfilled what many bands can only dream of, they hope to keep pushing and see just how far they can go. “If our hands all got chopped off, I think we’d be content. Well, not content with that, but content with how far we’ve come and with the success that we’ve had with our hands,” joked Cooper.

These talented guys have more than just nice accents and great mustaches. They’ve got talent and ambition as well. You definitely want to keep an eye out for them, because they’ve been doing great thus far and will only get better as time goes on. Make sure to pick up a copy of their music, and drop by one of their shows next time they hit your city. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

GET CONNECTED: www.facebook.com/handslikehouses www.blog.handslikehouses.net/ handslikehouses handslikehousesofficial INTERVIEW|Jenn Curtis STORY|Penelope Martinez PHOTO|Lori Gutman

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PEOPLE PRONOUNCE THE BAND NAME, CHIODOS, DIFFERENTLY ALL THE TIME. HOW WOULD YOU SPELL IT PHONETICALLY? Craig: I thought about this earlier today... I wanted to do a t-shirt with a dictionary entry on it, with spelled out pronunciation and an explanation. It’s Chee-ohdose.

WHEN THE BAND ORIGINALLY FORMED, THE NAME WAS THE CHIODOS BROS. WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME CHANGE? C: We started Chiodos when I was a sophomore or junior in high school. When we finally got our first record deal, a couple of the guys decided that it wasn’t for them. We’d been touring a lot, and we did seven full DIY tours before anything really happened. In taking the band forward, we decided to drop the “the” and the “brothers.”

YOU SPENT SOME TIME WORKING ON SOLO STUFF. WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING ON YOUR OWN, AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BEING WITH CHIODOS AGAIN? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES? C: It’s not like that at all. I know it’s hard to compartmentalize it, but it really is quite simple. When I’m in a room making music with some of my friends, it’s called Chiodos. When it’s just me with my guitar, like it is just about every night in my bedroom, it’s “solo.” I like making music, and sometimes I like doing it alone because I like the intimate vibe that it entails. I can be more like myself without ordering people to jump up and down, and wave their arms in the air like they just don’t care, and stuff like that. With Chiodos, it’s more along the lines of brothers coming to battle. We’re brothers bonding while combatting the battle of playing live every night and co-existing. All in all, people talk about different projects and things like that. It’s really simple. I know labels like to brand it and stamp it like the two can’t co-exist, but it’s just me going into a room and creating music with different friends. I’m just an artist, and I like to create.

been amazing. I know a group of four or five Stage It members who traveled to the last four shows, and they’re here tonight in NYC. I’ve met different members of the Stage It community every day on this tour. What it does is create this avenue of connection between the fans and myself that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

It allows me to hang out with them every month and give them an insight into who I am as a human being as opposed to who I am on stage. It also challenges me to try new things and try new songs that they want to hear. I get to share more of what it’s like when I’m sitting on my couch or in my bed with my guitar. I get to share those intimate moments with people that support me. It’s really cool for the community’s sake.

It’s clear that music is a huge part of your life now, but how did you end up in the music community and industry in the first place?

C: Happenstance. In sixth grade, I was told that I could sing. When I had my first solo in seventh grade, everything started making sense. I felt myself shine, in a way. Before that, I was a quiet, smart kid. After that experience, I just kept chasing it. A combination of that and music made me feel like I could escape. My parents would fight a lot; I grew up in kind of a rough home. I’d throw on my headphones, and that was the only time that I could really get away. I felt like the world started making sense. For a while, I wanted to do musical theater, but there were too many rules.

Eventually, I started Chiodos. The first song we wrote together was “Lindsay Quit Lollygagging,” and that’s a somewhat-famous Chiodos song. If you had told me at fifteen or sixteen years old that I would still be performing it at twenty-nine, I’d be pretty blown away. It just sort of happened.

Is that why you like to do the online performances?

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You said music is an escape for you. Is that what inspired the speaking portion in Sunny Days & Hand Grenades?

C: No, I think that was inspired by growing up in poverty. I was the poor kid and, just like in any town, there was the rich side and the poor side. I had a lot of friends on the wealthier side and, because I was known as the troublemaker poor kid in high school, I’d have to sit in the basement while their families would eat dinner. I wasn’t welcomed in their home at the dinner table… I experienced that a few times. It’s more of a statement about society and less about music. It’s more about me calling out the perfections of normal society and the suburban lifestyle.

Chiodos was, as you said, your first band.

What did you hope to accomplish when you guys first started? How have those hopes changed for present-day Chiodos?

C: We hoped to make music for a living and to turn our passion into a career, really. It was nothing too grandiose or crazy. We just wanted to make music and live comfortably while doing it. I don’t think that’s changed.

Right now, my hopes and goals are to reconnect with our older fans and to earn their trust back after all of our inconsistencies and ups-and-downs throughout the years. I just want to rebuild the Chiodos army, and then we can decide what’s next for us.

will yield the same results. These bands break up at a young age after achieving any sort of success. I think that this happens with poor management, and that’s what happened with us in the past. We weren’t able to communicate because we weren’t able to understand what we were going through.

How did those challenges and experiences influence you and your growth as a musician?

C: I think that we’re all ready and willing to communicate because we saw what happened in the past. We understand when enough is enough and when we need to go home for a bit. Taking a month off isn’t going to break this band. Doing little things for yourself is necessary to stay happy and healthy, and that’s no different for this group as a whole.

Since it’s the last day of tour, I have to ask.

Are there any tour pranks in the works?

C: Nothing from me, but I’d probably be the last person to come up with it. I’m the more serious, thoughtful guy. You’d have to ask the jokesters.

Who are the jokesters?

C: Everyone else. I wouldn’t doubt it if ’68 and Hands Like Houses tried something.

INTERVIEW|Jenn Curtis PHOTOS|Penelope Martinez

How do you plan to achieve these goals?

C: By touring and staying consistent. I think that’s the one thing that’s been missing from Chiodos. We’re going to keep touring. We’ll keep showing up and doing our thing. As long as we don’t sabotage it ourselves, I think we’ll be fine.

You’ve mentioned a time where you haven’t been the most consistent band. When have you lost track of what you were hoping to accomplish, and how did you get yourself back on track?

C: I got lost in a number of ways, I guess. A lot of it has to do with a lack of communication. But while we take responsibility for where we were put, it’s difficult not to blame management and the state of the music industry as a whole. When you force twenty year olds to be on the road for five or six years nonstop, you don’t allow them to grow. When you put them in the studio less than a week after being on tour and don’t allow them to process what they’re going through, you FOCUS MAGAZINE | 33

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Seemingly out of nowhere, pop-punk band Knuckle Puck has burst on to the scene and taken it by storm. They have yet to release a full-length album, but, despite that, they have already managed to tour the country. Based out of the suburbs of Chicago, IL, Knuckle Puck is Joe Taylor (vocals), John Siorek (drums), Ryan Rumchaks (bass), Kevin Maida (guitar), and Nick Casasanto (guitar). We were able to chat with Kevin about the whirlwind of success that has swept up the band in the past year.

The band formed gradually, but many could say that the guys came together by fate. Kevin met Nick when they were kids, and he knew Joe from going to the same high school and attending the same shows. After meeting John through concerts as well, they all began to jam together.

The last piece fell into place when they all collectively asked Ryan to join. Kevin calls their start “just a big old jam fest.”

But how did “Knuckle Puck” come about? Rumor has it that their band name is a reference to The Mighty Ducks.

Although it does tie back to that, it wasn’t inspired by the movie itself. Kevin shared that John was wearing a Stick To Your Guns shirt that said “Knuckle Puck Crew” on it. The band adopted the name from that shirt, and not the film.

When Knuckle Puck first started, Kevin’s initial goal with the band “was to just play some local shows and to give people from our local scene a type of band that they have never heard before.” In Chicago, metalcore and pop-rock bands dominated the local music scene, but those genres just aren’t what the guys were into when they attended local shows. They wanted to do something different and write music that wasn’t very common in their area.

Every band has a different writing process, and some require more time than others. For Knuckle Puck, it tends to start with someone creating a guitar riff or a drum beat.

They prefer to have something substantial that they can all work off of. Next, the guys create a demo in order to get a rough outline of a potential song. They continue by playing the demo together until everything sounds right.

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After writing for months, the band entered the scene in 2012 with a two-track EP called Acoustics, followed by a four-song EP titled Don’t Come Home. Still, they didn’t really gain momentum until their 2013 record, The Weight That You Buried. Fans of pop-punk latched onto this album and refused to let go, and Knuckle Puck soon went from playing house and basement shows to selling out venues. Their most recent release, a 7” split with Neck Deep, received rave reviews and sold out relatively quickly. Floored by the response, Kevin declares, “We didn't have a whole lot of time to write the songs for the split, so I think we were a little nervous upon releasing them. But the responses from people could not have been better.“ Impressively enough, the dudes of Knuckle Puck have accomplished everything thus far without the help of record label. Kevin mentions, in regards to staying focused and determined despite being unsigned, that “the unsigned aspect of our band isn't really a huge deal to us. We're just used to doing things all by ourselves, so it's not like we get discouraged by not being a part of a label.” As such, they have been touring

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constantly, and they were even able to tour the West Coast for the very first time on Neck Deep’s Spring 2014 tour.

Amongst all their recent successes, the guys of Knuckle Puck have faced their share of challenges along the way. For example, one major challenge they faced recently was making the decision to pursue the band full-time. Kevin, specifically, was attending college this past spring and school came first. On the Neck Deep tour, he was able to go out and play shows during his spring break, so he didn’t have to choose between his education and the band. Kevin tells us that him being in school was the last big thing holding them back from being fully committed to the band. “Everyone else was either working full-time or going to school here and there, prior to the Neck Deep tour. Since then, they all quit their jobs and I graduated, so we can actually say we're a full-time band now. If you told us three years ago that we would be touring full-time, we would have laughed in your face. Our band's motives have changed a lot, but we're still the same band and the exact same people,” mused Kevin.

“

Our band’s motives have changed a lot, but we’re still the same band and still the exact same people. ”

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Many websites and media outlets predicted that this was KP’s year. So far, they seem to be right. The band’s fanbase is growing at a rapid pace. Ever since the release of “The Weight That You Buried,” it’s been a wild ride. Kevin shares that “the past eight months have been insane. We’ve been graced with some incredible opportunities since then. We’re very thankful.”

As of right now, the guys don’t have any plans to record a full-length, but, lucky for us, they’re always writing new songs. Instead, the band is currently focusing on expanding its fanbase even further and playing more shows all across the U.S. In case you missed them while on the Heart Attack Tour, mkae sure to catch them out with Senses Fail and No Bragging Rights this fall and pick up some of their music. And if you’ve never heard of or listened to Knuckle Puck before, you should really give “No Good” or “Give Up” a chance!

GET CONNECTED: http://www.knucklepuckil.com http://www.facebook.com/KnucklePuckIL http://www.knucklepuck.bandcamp.com @knucklepuckil FOCUS MAGAZINE | 40

INTERVIEW | Mariana Patino STORY | Leah Dickerman PHOTOS | Penelope Martinez

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Nick Casasanto guitar

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John Siorek DrUms

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Joe Taylor vocals

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Kevin Maida guitar

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Hotel Books

I’m Almost Happy Here, But I Never Feel At Home

After signing with InVogue Records, Hotel Books have created what I believe to be one of the best albums of 2014 thus far. Although spoken word is not for everyone, it’s safe to say that this album will catch the attention of even those who aren’t so fond of the genre.

Hotel Books’ latest release, I’m Almost Happy Here, But I Never Feel At Home, is a real and honest record that explores the themes of loss and heartbreak. In between verses, vocalist Cameron Smith takes breaths that aren’t removed in post-production. In that aspect, these tracks aren’t clean, and it almost feels like you’re listening to the band live rather than through your speakers or headphones.

The opening song, “Lose One Friend,” is one of my favorites from this record. You can feel the raw emotion in Cameron’s unique voice. The lyrics describe the death of a friend and also the betrayal of one, so listeners can interpret it in either direction. The highlight of the song, for me, is when he says, “it’s not about being there for me, it’s about respecting me enough to tell me why you’re not.” He says it calmly, void of emotion compared to the rest of the song. You can feel the hurt in his voice, and it reminds me of those times when your parents tell you, “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.”

As the album goes on, Cameron plays flashbacks of his life that give listeners an inside look into his past and what he’s gone through. “Nicole,” my favorite song on the record, is a perfect example of this. It shares some negative memories but ends on a high note. It ultimately leaves us with hope, which is something that everyone needs every now and again. It tells us listeners what we want—maybe even need—to hear at least once in our lives: that no matter what, we will always have a friend there for us… Someone who never gave up on us and who will always be there to remind us that, in spite of how life might screw us over, we will always be loved.

All in all, this is an album that you should give a listen to, whether you’re into spoken word or not. You’ll find hope through it, and memories within it—not just Cameron’s, but also your own. You don’t need to wait until the middle of the night to absorb and fully appreciate the lyrics. I promise they’ll be just as great at eight in the morning when you’re on your way to work or school or whatever you do. Make sure to pick up a copy when it comes out on July 1st and, in the meantime, go check out the band’s past releases on www.hotelbooks.bandcamp.com. by | Penelope Martinez Until We Are Ghosts is a name you should probably remember, because they are definitely making a name for themselves with the help of this release. Aside from showing off Rob Anders’ vocals, the band’s debut album, Bitterseed, is able to highlight the other members’ talents through instrumental tracks. Personally, I think this was a good choice. Instead of jumping from one fast paced track to the next, the album gives listeners a chance to rest and appreciate the brilliant techniques of guitarists James Blankenberg and Kyle Hapeman, bassist Kevin Dickes, and drummer Jordan Blankenberg.

The band clearly worked hard on this album and it shows. I strongly recommend giving “Hour Glass” and “Bitterseed” a listen. These tracks have beautiful instrumental parts and catchy lyrics. With these two songs, the album ends on a strong note. Overall, Until We Are Ghosts are showing the rest of the world that they have found where they are meant to be and that is where they’re going to stay. by | Kelly Fadden

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Until We Are Ghosts Bitterseed

Hawthorne Heights The Silence in Black and White Acoustic

Hawthorne Heights’ 2004 release, The Silence In Black And White, was a staple in the music libraries of many people I know. With songs like “Ohio Is For Lovers” and “Niki FM,” the album was often recommended to me. When it was announced that the band would be creating an acoustic version of this album, I was excited to check it out.

The acoustic album could have been a hit or miss, honestly, because there were so many things that could have gone wrong. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Instead, Hawthorne Heights managed to reinvent the album without destroying its wellknown sound. Obviously “Niki FM” and “Ohio Is For Lovers” are the tracks that you definitely need to check out, but the rest of the songs on the album also deserve to be heard. “The Transition” is now one of my favorites. The song contains the harshness that the original was able to perfectly convey, but it’s toned down in certain parts. I didn’t even recognize the track when it began, although I think that this is a good thing. I love that the band changed the tones of the original album; it would be pointless to put out an acoustic remake that sounded exactly like its predecessor.

Somehow, Hawthorne Heights was able to make me feel like I was hearing every song for the first time all over again. This acoustic record gives new feelings to old memories, and I think it’s perfect for a summer playlist. The album is available now, so make sure to pick it up next time you’re out! by | Kelly Fadden

Ghost Town is a band that continues to outdo itself time and time again. Whether the guys are creating a new song or giving a live show, they always seem to above and beyond, and I constantly wonder how they’re going to top themselves next time. The After Party is Ghost Town’s latest release, and I have to say that the title matches what’s inside.

The album consists of mainly upbeat songs that are perfect for almost any occasion.

One of my favorite tracks—though it was a difficult choice—is “Under Wraps.”

Although it is one of the record’s slower songs, it is also one of the most beautiful.

The lyrics depict a scene of forbidden love. Lyrics like “Our forbidden lust, now untangled love” and “Don’t judge a mummy by its rags” really push you to think about your personal experiences. Despite the slow start, the song picks up towards the end to make sure you don’t have anything but a smile on your face by the time it ends. Another must-hear song is “W.F.F,” which is the most musically diverse track on the album. The speed of the music changes from fast to slow, so the track consistently sounds different. This could have turned out messy, but Ghost Town was able to make it work.

Overall, I think that The After Party is by far one of the greatest albums I have heard. Give these guys a listen and make sure to pick up the album on June 17th! by | Kelly Fadden

Ghost Town The After Party

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Fifth Time’s A Charm Tour

ft. Fifth Harmony Jackson Harris Before You Exit

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The Fifth Time’s A Charm Tour was unlike any show I’ve been to thus far. Considering the fact that about ninety percent of the crowd consisted of teenage girls, it was nice to see parents jamming along to the music while also keeping an eye on their kids.

Florida-based band Before You Exit opened up the show, and they were phenomenal. From the crowd interactions to the actual live performance, the guys knew how to keep the energy going. Because they were the opening act, I was surprised to see that almost everyone in attendance knew their songs. I even caught a couple of moms singing along.

Once Before You Exit left the stage, it was Jackson Harris’ turn to entertain. Although his band seemed to be a lot older than him, they played and danced extremely well. It didn’t seem like many people were familiar with his music, but the front row definitely showed him some love. Girls along the barricade gave Jackson handmade signs, and they reached out to the rest of the band as well.

Finally, Fifth Harmony took the stage. Right off the bat, you could tell that these girls had spent hours rehearsing and preparing for this tour. Camila, Lauren, Normani, Ally, and Dinah sounded incredible, and they captivated the crowd and those working at the venue. In the middle of the show, they brought up a male fan and serenaded him with John Legend’s “All of Me.” This was a very simple show production-wise, but that didn’t diminish how great it was. If you haven’t listened to these girls yet, I suggest you do so. They have a lot of talent, and I predict big things for them in the near future.

Review | Penelope Martinez Fifth Harmony Photos | Penelope Martinez Before You Exit Photos | Anam Merchant

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When the Pop Evil + Escape The Fate tour was announced, there was no question about whether I was going or not. Although I wasn’t very familiar with Glamour of the Kill and Avatar, I trusted that they had to be good if they were a part of this tour.

Glamour of the Kill opened up the show, and they certainly caught the attention of people in the front row.

The playlist consisted of a nice balance of songs for those who knew them and those who were just hearing the band for the first time. Although the band played a short set, the crowd enjoyed it and showed them the utmost respect.

After that, Avatar took the stage. Now, I’m not going to lie, I was a bit creeped out by them at first. I’m generally not a fan of the whole toy soldier dress-up thing...

But as the old saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Their music and unique stage presence was great, and I can’t deny that they put on an absolutely killer performance. Although this is the Swedish band’s first time touring in the U.S., I think it’s safe to say that I will definitely be seeing them in the future.

Escape The Fate was next on the lineup. Since they were missing a bassist, they asked the vocalist/bassist of Glamour of the Kill to help them out on stage. The energy exuding from both the band and their fans was high, and it seemed like everybody in the building knew all the songs that Escape The Fate performed.

Aside from their setlist, the band, and ultimately the crowd, sang happy birthday to TJ. It was a great set overall, and although they kept spraying everyone with water, I really enjoyed seeing them again.

Shortly after Escape The Fate finished, Pop Evil came on and gave us the old-fashioned rock show we wanted. Everyone sang along as the band played songs both old and new. I noticed that while the husbands were up at the front having a good time, their wives were recording the set and relaxing in the back. Surprisingly, this was one of the calmest shows I’ve ever been to. It was a great way to spend a Friday night, and I was introduced to new music that I ended up really enjoying. If you missed the bands on this tour, make sure to catch them next time around! I highly recommend it.

Pop Evil Escape the Fate

ft. Avatar Glamour of the Kill Photos + Review | Penelope Martinez

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by Jenn Curtis

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by Lori Gutman

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by Penelope Martinez

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letlive.

by Penelope Martinez

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by Anam Merchant

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by Penelope Martinez

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by Penelope Martinez

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